The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #108531 Message #2260066
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
11-Feb-08 - 11:29 PM
Thread Name: BS: Another question for Brits
Subject: RE: BS: Another question for Brits
'Posh' has several meanings.
In the sense of smart, classy, 'swell,' etc., the OED says there is no evidence for it standing for 'port out,.....' This usage first appeared in Wodehouse, "Tales of St. Austin's," 1903. It appeared again in 1918 in Punch.
Chowdharay-Best discussed 'port out, ...' at length in "Mariner's Mirror," 1971, and dismissed this interpretation.
Posh means mushy ice to sailors (Davis, "Polaris Expedition," Melville, etc. 1876 ).
Posh to Galsworthy meant rubbish (1924).
Posh is a coin or money of small value (1830, slang, Sessions Papers, Old Bailey).
Posh was a term for smashed fruit, etc., or the sound of such-like smashing into a hard surface (English Dial. Dict., 1790).
Posh was slang for a Dandy (Fitzgerald, 1867).